Different Floor Management Systems Affect Soil Properties and Initial Development of Apple Tree (Malus × domestica Borkh.) in an Orchard

Abstract

In order to achieve sustainable food production, non-chemical weed management practices need to be developed for fruit growing. Tailor-made floor management systems enable efficient weed regulation, but they also affect the soil quality in an orchard. In this article, the effects of various floor management systems in a ‘Red Jonaprince’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard on the soil properties and the trees’ nutritional status and initial development during the first two years after the orchard’s establishment were assessed. The experiment was set up in the spring of 2017 in the Experimental Orchard of WULS. ‘Red Jonaprince’ cv. trees grafted on M.9 rootstock were planted with 3.5 × 1 m spacing between them. Different floor management systems were applied to the rows, including the selected organic mulches: Miscanthus × giganteus straw (MG1 and MG2), spent mushroom substrates (SMS1 and SMS2), herbicide strip (HS), clear mechanical soil cultivation (MC), and synthetic black mulch (BC). The organic mulches affected the soil properties significantly. Spent mushroom substrates (SMS1, SMS2) increased the P and K contents in the soil, increased the salinity 10-fold, and retarded the growth in terms of the trunk cross-section area (TCSA) and its increment compared with other systems. Miscanthus × giganteus straw mulch (MG1, MG2) was associated with a more vigorous shoot growth compared with other combinations in the first year of the study as it provided a better tree nitrogen nutritional status. The floor management system affected the generative development of the trees. Mulching with a spent mushroom substrate boosted the flower bud formation intensity, but it did not affect the yielding quantity. Moreover, due to the poor fruit set, the trees mulched with a spent mushroom substrate (SMS2) gave a low initial bearing. High crop loads were noted for the trees treated with black synthetic mulch (BC) and the trees mulched with Miscanthus × giganteus straw (MG1). This was an effect of the tree size rather than the blooming intensity, while there were no differences in the cropping efficiency index (CEI) parameter.

Tree Root-Associated Microbial Communities Depend on Various Floor Management Systems in an Intensive Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) Orchard

“…It has previously been well-documented that the floor management system affects the most important soil properties that decide its fertility [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. The results published by Przybyłko et al [ 22 ] indicate that the dynamics and direction of changes that occur depend on the soil maintenance used. During three consecutive seasons of different floor management systems, use of the spent mushroom substrate led to an increase in the P, K, and Mg concentrations, as well as in the pH value.…”

“…During three consecutive seasons of different floor management systems, use of the spent mushroom substrate led to an increase in the P, K, and Mg concentrations, as well as in the pH value. On the other hand, Miscanthus straw showed to be a much poorer source of the analyzed macronutrients, although relatively high concentrations of P and K were noted in comparison to the systems tested where no organic litter was used at all [ 22 ]. The variations including increasing soil salinity and organic matter content after the spent mushroom application that we observed encouraged us to check to what extent the diversity of tree root-associated microbial communities was affected in such conditions.…”

“…All organic mulches were replenished during the trial to maintain 10 cm layer. The chosen parameters of organic mulches that we used and the physico-chemical soil properties were previously described by Przybyłko et al [ 22 ].…”

Usefulness of Living Mulch in Rows in a Dwarf Pear, Pyrus communis L., Orchard

“…LMs seem to be effective in controlling weed growth, although they do not completely stop them [7][8][9][10]. The advantages of this method, emphasised by some authors, include the natural supplementation of the soil with nutrients due to the decomposition of cover plant tissues [11,12] and the improvement in the soil structure by cover plant roots, which creates a favourable environment for soil microorganisms [13]. Meta-analysis of data from Chinese orchards [14] showed that grass cover increased the microbial biomass carbon as well as abundances of bacteria, fungi, Agriculture 2023, 13, 2145 2 of 15 and actinobacteria by 47-78.7%, compared with orchards without grass cover.…”